Health Center Announces Upcoming Flu Shot Clinics

Livingston County Health Center has announced two upcoming opportunities for county residents to receive their vaccination for influenza for the 2017-2018 flu season.

On Friday, November 3rd, Health Center nurses will be holding a walk-in clinic at their office, located at 800 Adam Drive, for residents 19 and older from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. 

On Tuesday, November 21st, another walk-in flu clinic will be held at the health center, from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Those with private insurance or Medicare should bring their card to the clinic. 

More opportunities to get vaccinated will be announced until vaccine supply runs out. 

Smart Connections Class Series

Livingston County Health Center would like to announce a Smart Connections® class series at the Livingston County Health Center, located at 800 Adam Drive.

Smart Connections® is a free program from Trauma Smart® for caregivers to connect, network and enhance skills in a relaxed and engaging atmosphere. Anyone who deals with kids can add tools to address challenging behaviors as well as to increase connection with your child.

Mary Taylor, RN and Maternal Child Health Coordinator at the Health Center will be the instructor. Classes will be held through the school year, 5:30-6:30 p.m. in Classroom at the Livingston County Health Center.   Classes include: “Managing the Ups & Downs”; “Reading the Signs”; “Creating Comfort”; “Encouraging Growth”; “Feelings Detective”; “Expressing Feelings”; “Blowing Worries Away”; “Build a Calm Down Spot”; “Encouraging Learning” and “Identifying the Superhero in Your Child.”

The first class will be held next Wednesday, October 18^th at 5:30 p.m. in the Health Center Classroom.  Visit www.livcohealthcenter.com for more dates through March of 2018.

Classes are interactive, featuring educational information and an activity to craft things that can help a child calm themselves down when they’re in hard and scary situations.  

Teaching behaviors at home will reinforce the in school program, which hopes to make it easier for kids and school staff to deal with issues that come up in the classroom.

Smart Connections® complements the Trauma Smart program implemented in Chillicothe R-II grades Kindergarten through 5th grade.  The project was initiated by the Livingston County Health Center, Chillicothe R-II School District and the Crittenton Children’s Center.

There is no charge to attend classes.  Parents and Caregivers who are interested in attending should visit our website: www.livcohealthcenter.com to access the online registration.  Those who don’t have Internet access can call the Health Center at 646-5506.

For more information about the program, contact Mary Taylor, RN at 646-5506. 

Smart Connections - Show Me Health

Trauma Smart is a program created by Crittenton Children’s Center to provide support to children who have experienced trauma as well as caregivers and teachers who love and take care of them. 

Un-resolved trauma in childhood can have life-long effects and is linked to adult aggression, substance abuse, eating disorders, depression, and suicide.  Trauma Smart helps resolve the effects of trauma so children can live confident, productive lives. 

Trauma can be one event or a series of events that frighten, confuse or hurt a child.  What is hard and scary for one child, may not be hard and scary for another.  Some examples of trauma are; death of a loved one, painful or extended medical procedures, separation from family, physical or sexual abuse, violent crime, incarcerations or arrest of a loved one, house fire or car accident, hurricane, tornado or flood.

Children may show these signs if they are suffering the effects of trauma.  Children may have a change in sleep pattern, nightmares or night terrors.  You may see frequent crying, anxiety, nervousness, more quiet than normal or a change in eating habits.  Other signs are frequent temper tantrums, aggressive behavior, acting younger than their age or trouble separating from caregivers. 

In the event of a traumatic event, parents and caregivers should remain calm, soothe and comfort your child.  Then parents can encourage their children to express their emotions while maintaining a consistent routine and preparing children ahead of time for any changes to routine.

Smart Connections, the parent education piece to Trauma Smart, teaches parents the skills to connect with their children.  Starting October 18^th, Mary Taylor from the Livingston County Health Center will offer Smart Connections at the Livingston County Health Center.

On October 18, parents and caregivers can learn how to Manage the Ups and Downs by learning how to take care of themselves so they can better care for their children.

The next session on November 1, will teach parents how to Read the Signs and strengthen connections with your children.

On November 15, you learn how to Create Comfort by implementing routines and rituals with your children.

At the November 29 class, parents will find out about Encouraging Growth by learning about praise and how it affects behaviors.

After the first of the year on January 10, learn how to become a Feelings Detective and help your child identify his/her feelings, energy and moods.

At the January 24 session, parents and caregivers learn ways to teach children to Express Feelings and the effects of grief and loss.

On February 7, Blow Worries Away and help the child regulate their energy level, mood or feelings.  Also learn the calm down steps and how to implement these steps.

Build a Calm Down Spot is the topic for February 21, where participants will and learn the importance of having a safe place for every child.

Encouraging Learning and ways to help a child problem solve will be the topic on March 7^th.

The final class of the series on March 21 parents will learn how to “Identify the Superhero in Your Child”, by identifying their unique, positive, coherent ad future selves.

If you would to attend please call the Health Center at 646-5506 to sign up. Every parent and caregiver is welcome.